The Lima area Toys for Tots program is getting assistance from Meijer to provide a merry Christmas for hundreds of children. The Lima Meijer store donated $3,000 to the local Toys for Tots program, allowing them to fill cart after cart of toys for area children. Organizers say they are still in need of items for all ages, and donations like this are a great help.

The Veterans Food Pantry of Northwest Ohio is looking for donations to help out veterans in need this holiday season.

Findlay City Schools along with Hancock County Educational Service and Meijer held a vaccination clinic Saturday morning. The vaccine clinic was held at Findlay High School.

Despite the pandemic, the toy drive seems to be going well in the Salvation Army’s eyes. But there have been some shortfalls as expected. Boxes weren’t set out in all the typical locations. Some businesses that were closed to the public or worked remotely didn’t have their normal amount of donations. Luckily those larger donations that come on an annual basis were still made.

Even with uncertainty surrounding schools, one thing is certain and that is school supplies will be needed. So it's a good thing tax free weekend has arrived.

The first weekend in August has been designated as a sales tax free weekend for certain items in Ohio. You can purchase clothing priced at $75 or less for each item, school supplies at $20 or less per item and school instructional material at $20 or less per item. And that goes for anyone shopping for these things, not just those students going back to school. You are able to get those items tax free shopping online as well. To see all information on the tax free weekend, you can find it on the state website.

A local retailer helps make sure that everybody has a present under the tree this Christmas. Meijer presented a $3000 check to Toys for Tots to help them shop for more than 1400 kids, ages 12 and under, who are getting presents through the Salvation Army's Christmas Assistance Program. While Toys for Tots has been accepting donations since December 1st, sometimes people concentrate on buying items for the younger kids, but this donation helps make sure that the older kids are not forgotten.

The Lima FOP is giving children in the community a real Christmas experience. Droves of police cars lit up the way to Meijer for the annual Cops and Kids shopping day. 90 children were paired up with members of law enforcement to find Christmas gifts for themselves and their families. The kids were ecstatic as they walked through the aisles, not only because they were Christmas shopping, but also because they got to hang out with law enforcement for the day. That joy was contagious as even the officers love to be able to give back during this event. 

The American Farm Bureau Federation says that feeding a family of ten on Thanksgiving costs an average of only $50 with the star of the show, the turkey, being at its lowest price since 2010. 

You could hear the rattling of shopping carts being pushed in every corner of Meijer today as families shopped for their Thanksgiving dinner favorites. Though celebrations happening next week are about spending time with loved ones, everyone knows that Thanksgiving dinner is the main event.

The West Ohio Food Bank is teaming up with Meijer to put food in the hands of students. "Simply Give" is a way you can add a little more to your bill that will be donated to the food bank. Your donation will be used to supplement several food programs designed just for students. You can get your "Simply Give" card at the Lima Meijer store through September 28th. Your donation will be double matched by Meijer on Friday, August 30th and Friday, September 13th.

Meijer is recalling over 43,000 pounds of ground beef that might have hard pieces of plastic in it. The meat was packaged at JBS Plainwell in Michigan. It was sold between March 22nd and April 9th at Meijer locations in Ohio and other midwest states. The one pound ground beef packages are marked with "Fresh from Meijer."